Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

Mailman (City Letter Carrier)

MailmanDave

17 Years Experience

Long Island, NY

Male, 43

I am a City Letter Carrier for the US Postal Service in NY. I've been a city letter carrier for over 17 years and it is the best job I've ever had. I mostly work 5 days per week (sometimes includes a Saturday) and often have the opportunity for overtime, which is usually voluntary. The route I deliver has about 350 homes and I walk to each of their doors to deliver the mail. Please keep in mind that I don't have authority to speak for the USPS, so all opinions are solely mine, not my employer.

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Last Answer on February 18, 2022

Best Rated

What would happen If a package (that was ordered in the month of November, Delivery was in the month of December) was delivered to an old address. Though you moved to a new place? What would I need to do?

Asked by Brandon almost 11 years ago

I don't know that you would actually get the package that was delivered to your old address. Once it is delivered there, it'd probably be up to the recipients to return it to the USPS saying you no longer live there. If you put in a forwarding request for mail to go from your old address to your new address the package should have been forwarded as well. I would contact the sender and ask if you could get a replacement item because the first order went to your old address. I am not sure that you would get a replacement because the item was shipped to the address you gave them.

560 Votes

Dave , I recently sent off some mailed that I marked please forward with the new address to the side but I found out it never reached the person, I was told I didn't cover up the old adress or bar code how can i track this mail or receive it again.

Asked by Annie about 11 years ago

Thanks for your question. Usually, we don't honor handwritten forwarding requests on a piece of mail unless the person requesting it puts on postage in addition to the already "used" postage on the letter when it was originally mailed. It is true that if the original bar code isn't covered up that the mail may not be sent to the "forwarded" address either. The best way for a previous tenant/resident to receive mail via the USPS forwarding system is to submit an official change of address application either online at www.usps.gov or via a paper form available at any Post Office. I know this is a bit lengthy of answer to your original question. The bottom line is that I don't know how you can track the mail or receive it again. It is possible that it was returned to the sender.

559 Votes

It I Leave A Polymailer Bag Inside My Mailbox Will The Mailman Get It ?

Asked by Evette Ponce over 10 years ago

I am not exactly sure what a polymailer is but as long as there is postage affixed or prepaid postage printed off the internet or a prepaid return shipping label the letter carrier should take it. We do this all the time with home-based business that sell on eBay, etsy, etc. Please just make sure the item to be mailed is visible to the letter carrier.

558 Votes

I was also wondering...The flag on my mailbox is broken. Is there another way to let the mailman know that there is outgoing mail? Or should I either buy another flag or put a note saying there's out going mail?

Asked by Izzy over 10 years ago

I don't know the answer to this, but if you bought a replacement flag that is able to go up and down, it would certainly help. As long as I'm stopping at a house to deliver mail and there is outgoing mail which is easily visible I will know to take it with me whether or not a flag is raised. The possible confusion comes on a day where there is no mail to be delivered to your address. In that case a letter carrier may not stop if there is no flag to notify of outgoing mail. Where I deliver mail (Long Island, NY) most addresses receive some type of mail daily (a local flyer or gov't mailing, advertising, etc) so this is rarely a problem. In your part of TX, this may not be the case so I can't really comment on the significance of having an operational flag.

557 Votes

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My stupid roomate keeps yelling at me when the mailman hands me the mail while i am outside and so they dont pick up outgoing mail. He says it is illegal, is it? Is there anywhere to.find this information so he will shut up! We love our postman!

Asked by Kelsey over 10 years ago

I think it's fine for the letter carrier to hand you the mail outside, but I also think it's a good idea for the letter carrier to inquire if there may be any outgoing mail. The mail should also be visible in the mailbox so the letter carrier can see that there is outgoing mail. I've never been told it's illegal to hand someone the mail especially if they are personally known to the letter carrier. If it were illegal, I'd hope that our mgmt or training manuals (which I've almost never seen) would address that question.

557 Votes

Has the mail already been delivered on Stonesboro Rd Ft Washington Maryland today 4/8/2016

Asked by Sophia Woodland over 9 years ago

As I'm writing this reply on April 12, I'm pretty sure that the mail has been delivered on stonesboro rd in ft Washington, MD by now for April 8. ???? This q and a isn't for USPS customer service or any real-time questions. I mostly answer questions about being a letter carrier and possibly make suggestions if someone has a customer service problem that doesn't need immediate attention. With regards to your question, I think that only your local PO would know when and if mail was delivered to your street.

556 Votes

I am working as mailman 3 months now i feel that when regular mailman given tough time or in their absence they look for CCA to help them, they send them 3 or 4 different locations to complete with time frame but i think time is not real

Asked by eric about 10 years ago

Eric, I do understand what you mean. It's like they look to the CCA to clean up the table scraps when a regular is out on sick or annual leave or can't finish their route. This is the nature of being a CCA. It's important to be flexible in your availability and willingness to go help other letter carriers. With regard to the time frame to complete 3 or 4 different pieces, it's important to not get too caught up with how long they say it should take. As long as you are going at a reasonable pace and not wasting time by using your cell phone or talking too long too customers, the management can't do much too you. It sounds like you have passed probation which is good. They also need to take into account that it takes time to travel between the locations you are assigned to go to. If they give you a hard time about how long it takes to complete a section, I would respond that you are doing as best as you can. Please just deliver the mail safely, accurately and be organized.

556 Votes

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